New dorm at Saint Rose means demolition for 13 buildings

Construction on a new dormitory and a 171- space parking lot is expected to begin in Spring 2011 at The College of Saint Rose. Some 13 buildings spread over Madison Avenue, Morris, Partridge, and Yates streets have been purchased by the college and would be demolished to make way for the new parking lot and dormitory.

Diagram for Proposed Dorm and Lot. Credit: Saint Rose

The decision to build a new dormitory came after a feasibility study was conducted in 2008, said Marcus Buckly, Saint Rose vice president for finance and administration. The new 220- bed dormitory will deliver housing for growing enrollment, Buckley said. The City of Albany’s zoning and planning regulations requires 0.5 parking spaces per bedroom, Buckley said, which works out to 171 parking spaces that need to be constructed to accommodate student vehicles.

The college began buying buildings several years ago, and continued until enough contiguous land was acquired, according to Jen Richardson, director of residence life at Saint Rose.

The proposed parking lot will begin at the back of the new housing, and will expand the Massry-Music lot that runs behind most of the College’s buildings on the south side of Madison Avenue, Buckley said.

The site redevelopment plan is scheduled to begin today, Dec. 1, and end on July 1, 2012, according to applications submitted by the college to the city’s Department of Development and Planning. City records indicate the college intends to break ground in May or June of next year, according to Brad Glass, a city planner. Demolition on the 13 buildings cannot begin until the college’s applications are approved by the city’s Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeals.

226 Partridge St., slated for demolition / photo: Chelsea Kruger

The proposal for the necessary parking accommodations to accommodate the dormitory is meeting with some resistance. A local high school teacher, Tom Ellis, has lived in the neighborhood for more than 10 years and he said he didn’t want to see houses demolished.

“It will detract from the beauty of the neighborhood,” Ellis said. He also said the change in the overall look of the neighborhood is not worth the development. Ellis is particularly concerned with the resulting loss of several trees on Yates Street if the plan for the new parking lot is approved. Trees, he said, “increase beauty” and the college will do a disservice to the neighborhood by taking them away.

Ellis is also concerned that people who live near the proposed parking lot will be bothered by the increased noise, lights and overall change in scenery that blacktop will replace.

“Saint Rose isn’t being a good neighbor,” Ellis said. He thinks the college should build a parking structure that blends with other buildings in the neighborhood. He proposed the demolition of fewer buildings so that the neighborhood could retain its beauty.

The college’s proposed surface parking spaces cost $7,500 each, putting the price of the entire parking project at between $1.27 million and $1.42 million, Buckley said. An underground parking structure would be much more expensive, and would cost $30,000 for each space while an above ground structure would cost $15,000 for each space, he said.

“Our research indicates that people will not pay the $150 to $250 for each month that would be required to pay for a garage,” Buckley said. A committee is being formed to figure out how much the new project will cost students.

In the meantime, Ellis is concerned about preserving portions of the structures, since many have been around for decades, and are historical. Buckley said that the college has already taken the idea under consideration and will salvage the houses in conjunction with the Historic Albany Foundation.

“Historically significant items, period pieces and other useful items are removed in advance,” Buckley said.

He also said that, since the structures are very old, they will be inspected for hazardous materials such as lead based paints, PCBs, asbestos and other pollutants. After that, Buckley said, as much as 80% of the home materials will be recycled.

Ellis said that he does not believe that the College is being open with the public on the issue of the proposed demolitions.

“My sense is that the College doesn’t want to share information with the community,” Ellis said.

Buckley, however, said “the College has been truthful to a fault, even when we know some people won’t like the answer.”

The College aspires to own as part of their ideal “campus map,” according to Buckley.

“We create a great deal of transparency when we do these projects, and this one is no exception,” Buckley said. “I learned a long time ago that we cannot satisfy everybody,” he said – “and that it is a waste of time to try.” -30-

Crista Collins

2 Responses

There is certainly much debate about whether the new dorm and parking plan seems appropriate. From a College of Saint Rose perspective, I can see how having updated housing and increased parking can bring more people to Albany and the Pine Hills neighborhoods. I can even see how that means more money brought into local businesses. It also means having a higher quality and potentially greener living space for students which can benefit the community as a whole. However, Ellis’ point about the historic value of some of the homes is one to consider. Pine Hills is known for its historic value and the aesthetics of the area invites many new home buyers to purchase homes here. However, not all demolition and reconstruction negatively impacts local communities and, in fact, The College has considered the impact of new structures on local communities as it has grown over the many years I have been here. I do believe The College will preserve and recycle as much of the homes as possible and try to maintain the “face” of the historic Pine Hills while also bringing in much need advancements for The College.

And once again the College of Saint Rose takes more Pine Hills property off the blocks to fill it with even more college kids. When people own houses they pay taxes which in turn goes into the city revenues. The more Suny, Sage and Saitn Rose buy these houses the more tax free property is created in Albany with more tax increases going to actual homeowners. And let’s not forget the fact that it’s dumping another bunch of students into the college ghetto to annoy homeowners and resdidents. If Saint Rose want’s to expand then take a lesson from SUNY and build an uptown campus. The Averill Harriman State ampus is looking for tenants as I recall hearing. More College kids in Pine Hills means more victims, more crime, more parties, and possibly more dead bodies.

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